Third arrest over ex-boxer's murder

A third man has been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of British heavyweight boxing champion James Oyebola.

The man is being held in custody and will be transferred to a Metropolitan Police station, after being arrested at Gatwick Airport, Scotland Yard said.

Oyebola died four days after being shot at the Chateau 6 club in Fulham Road, west London, after intervening in a row over smoking. A 22-year-old man who was arrested in connection with Oyebola's death in the Putney area of west London on Tuesday is still being questioned.

The first man to be arrested, a 19-year-old, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Oyebola, from north-west London, died four days after being shot at the Chateau 6 club in Fulham Road, west London, after intervening in a row over smoking.

The 6ft 9ins former British heavyweight champion was shot in the head and leg during the incident in the early hours of July 23. He was taken to New Charing Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead on July 27.

Oyebola, known as Big Bad during his fighting career, arrived at the bar about two hours earlier for a drink with the owner after finishing work at a nearby bar. The shooting took place 23 days after smoking was banned in pubs, clubs and restaurants in England.

His attackers, described as black and aged between 19 and 25, fled the club on foot. Police said there were at least 40 customers in the premises when the shooting took place, many of whom apparently panicked and ran away.

Mr Oyebola, born in Nigeria, won 18 of his 23 fights, and was a bronze medallist at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. He retired from boxing in 1996.

Mr Oyebola's family said his name would live on in a charity foundation aimed at keeping young people off the streets.